They've killed their ppv business. They've killed their home video business. The Network is meant to replace them both. They're all in on this. Come what may. As I said in the other thread. This is the point of no return. There's no going back to business as usual now that the Network has launched.
Cannot begin to describe how many lolz were had at the announcement of Jeff Jarrett's promotion. When you make TNA look professional by comparison, whoa boy...
Hoo boy, all those numbers. I'll tell you what: I'll watch it until they decide to cancel it all. Let everyone else figger out what dem numbers all mean.
Did you even bother to read the article? The key questions were addressed there:
1. How much did the Network cannibalize the WM buyrate. We won't know that for a few weeks. If Wrestlemania was 50 - 65% of traditional buys, they're well ahead of the game; and
2. Now that the Network has shown that it can capably handle WM, does this mean that WWE will get both a subscription boost and the confidence to boost the price to $15 / month.
Because at $15 / month, they make their money back without blinking. And as noted, Amazon Prime has been able to pull off price increases successfully.
The numbers are actually pretty close to the mid-level scenario in the Corporate chart. $70M net revenue on the Network, with the big question being how much they're cannibalizing their traditional revenue streams (I think $15M is *way* under that real figure, personally).
I think last night will go a very long way with consumer good will. I was EXTREMELY impressed with the stream's performance and, unrelated to the network, somebody bought me a Roku a couple weeks ago. Since hooking that up, I've had to remind myself that WWE Network is an internet streaming service and not a regular cable broadcasting station. I just hit a button and watch it on my TV with little to no issue with the stream. After last night, I told myself that this Network has paid for itself until they raise the price to a point that it's no longer a worthwhile investment.
Each year I always buy WrestleMania (which is what, $60 in and of itself?) and Royal Rumble ($40?), with SummerSlam and Money in the Bank typically question marks depending on the build. $15 per month is $180, which falls within that total price range. I'm not sure I'd go as high as $20, but $15 is still worthwhile.
Good to see people who disliked the booking last night are all over this today. Trust me, my dividends are still looking pretty swank compared to eight-ten months ago.
"In the last eight incarnations, Wrestlemania has averaged 1.07 million worldwide buys (667k domestic buys) on Pay-Per-View."
So the hardcore U.S. fanbase is essentially 667k? That the average domestic buys of Wrestlemania and the initial launch number of the WWE Network is exactly the same is pretty damning evidence i'd say.
I actually just tried it by having it running on my iPhone and PC at the same time. I clicked off WiFi on my phone to make sure they were different IP addresses as well.
The verdict: You can have two devices running the same account at once.
That's so tricky though because how many first time, 8 year old "Dad I just found this thing called wrestling can we get Wrestlemania?" people are in that buyrate?
They've killed their ppv business. They've killed their home video business. The Network is meant to replace them both. They're all in on this. Come what may. As I said in the other thread. This is the point of no return. There's no going back to business as usual now that the Network has launched.
ReplyDeleteCannot begin to describe how many lolz were had at the announcement of Jeff Jarrett's promotion. When you make TNA look professional by comparison, whoa boy...
ReplyDelete"The stock is NOT down because Brock Lesnar beat the Undertaker."
ReplyDeletelol
Hoo boy, all those numbers. I'll tell you what: I'll watch it until they decide to cancel it all. Let everyone else figger out what dem numbers all mean.
ReplyDeleteIs keeping a regular PPV schedule even important? They control their own network now.
ReplyDeleteit would be nice have the fiber of once-a-month "events"
ReplyDeleteHave more details been revealed?
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer they have fewer from an artistic standpoint. It's easier to do longer angles.
ReplyDeleteaces and 8's says hi :P
ReplyDeleteThat logo.............
ReplyDeleteWell it's nice to not have to go to your vhs collection to watch an unedited ppv.
ReplyDeleteWhen I can watch it on the network in HD.
As do Flair/Dusty, Hogan/Andre, Hogan/Savage, Austin/McMahon. Aces and Eights were the downside of some pretty decent TNA booking at that time.
ReplyDeletei'm not sure they know how to do long term booking, though. the classic examples are from a different time
ReplyDeleteeven though rock/cena was announced a year out, it didn't get going till the rumble.
and even everything that's happened with dbry wasn't hotshotted till before the rumble, and then put in overdrive after that due to crowd backlash
Still, WWE Stock is still way up year-to-date and if you look at the five year stock ticket it's actually doing insanely wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDid you even bother to read the article? The key questions were addressed there:
ReplyDelete1. How much did the Network cannibalize the WM buyrate. We won't know that for a few weeks. If Wrestlemania was 50 - 65% of traditional buys, they're well ahead of the game; and
2. Now that the Network has shown that it can capably handle WM, does this mean that WWE will get both a subscription boost and the confidence to boost the price to $15 / month.
Because at $15 / month, they make their money back without blinking. And as noted, Amazon Prime has been able to pull off price increases successfully.
Time to hotshot the belts onto Batista.
ReplyDeleteThe numbers are actually pretty close to the mid-level scenario in the Corporate chart. $70M net revenue on the Network, with the big question being how much they're cannibalizing their traditional revenue streams (I think $15M is *way* under that real figure, personally).
ReplyDeleteI think last night will go a very long way with consumer good will. I was EXTREMELY impressed with the stream's performance and, unrelated to the network, somebody bought me a Roku a couple weeks ago. Since hooking that up, I've had to remind myself that WWE Network is an internet streaming service and not a regular cable broadcasting station. I just hit a button and watch it on my TV with little to no issue with the stream. After last night, I told myself that this Network has paid for itself until they raise the price to a point that it's no longer a worthwhile investment.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's that price for you?
ReplyDeleteBecause if it's $15, they're profitable.
This guy is overqualified for WhatCulture.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many subscribers are sharing their log in worth others and if they cracked down on that how many new subscribers they would get.
ReplyDeleteI think it only allows streaming to one device at a time.
ReplyDeleteEach year I always buy WrestleMania (which is what, $60 in and of itself?) and Royal Rumble ($40?), with SummerSlam and Money in the Bank typically question marks depending on the build. $15 per month is $180, which falls within that total price range. I'm not sure I'd go as high as $20, but $15 is still worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteGood to see people who disliked the booking last night are all over this today. Trust me, my dividends are still looking pretty swank compared to eight-ten months ago.
ReplyDelete"In the last eight incarnations, Wrestlemania has averaged 1.07 million worldwide buys (667k domestic buys) on Pay-Per-View."
ReplyDeleteSo the hardcore U.S. fanbase is essentially 667k? That the average domestic buys of Wrestlemania and the initial launch number of the WWE Network is exactly the same is pretty damning evidence i'd say.
I actually just tried it by having it running on my iPhone and PC at the same time. I clicked off WiFi on my phone to make sure they were different IP addresses as well.
ReplyDeleteThe verdict: You can have two devices running the same account at once.
Exactly what I thought. I was surprised at the analytical detail of the piece.
ReplyDeleteThat's so tricky though because how many first time, 8 year old "Dad I just found this thing called wrestling can we get Wrestlemania?" people are in that buyrate?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it did the first couple of days, but I've ran the network on my phone and my laptop and had no issues since.
ReplyDelete